Home > Statistics > Building and dwelling production > 2020 > November > Cubic volume of granted building permits decreased year-on-year

Published: 26 January 2021

Cubic volume of granted building permits decreased year-on-year

Corrected on 18 February 2021. The Corrections are indicated in red.

According to Statistics Finland, in September to November 2020, building permits were granted for a total of 9.3 million cubic metres, 11.6 per cent less than one year ago. During this period, the cubic volume granted for residential building construction increased by 12.5 per cent and the cubic volume granted for other than residential building construction, in turn, decreased by 21.3 per cent. The decrease in the cubic volume of building permits was mainly due to the 35.5 per cent drop in construction of commercial and office buildings compared to the year before.

Granted building permits and building starts, mil. m3, moving annual total

Good growth in cubic volume granted for residential building construction

In September to November, building permits for residential building construction were granted for a total of 3.4 million cubic metres, 12.5 per cent more than one year earlier. During this period, clearly more building permits were granted for blocks of flats than one year earlier, measured by cubic volume the growth amounted to 20.7 per cent. The cubic volume of detached and semi-detached houses grew by one per cent year-on-year.

Building permits were granted for a total of 11,936 dwellings in September to November. The figure was 21.2 per cent higher than one year previously. At the same time, construction of a total of 13,222 dwellings was started and 10,349 dwellings were completed.

Volume of building production decreased

In September to November, the constant-price value or the volume of ongoing building production decreased by 6.6 per cent year-on-year. The volume of residential building construction decreased by 8.6 per cent and that of other than residential building construction by 5.2 per cent. At the same time, building projects totalling 11,3 million cubic metres were started, 10.3 per cent more than one year earlier. The number of residential building starts was 17.4 per cent higher than one year ago.

Volume index of newbuilding 2015=100, trend

Preliminary data for December

For the time being, Statistics Finland publishes preliminary data on building projects started. This time series is available from 2018 onwards.

According to preliminary data, the moving annual total of building projects started grew in December by 1.7 per cent compared to November. As a result of a particularly strong early part and end of the year, the moving annual total of the volume grew by as much as 7.4 per cent at the end of the corona year in December from one year ago.

 

Preliminary registered starts, mil. m3, moving annual total (Corrected on 18 February 2021)

The figures are not comparable with the estimated starts given in the publications. Preliminary data are based on registered starts and their values are not supplemented from the first publication.

Source: Building and dwelling production, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Kalle Laukkanen 029 551 3017, Merja Järvinen 029 551 2458, Petri Kettunen 029 551 3558, rakennus.suhdanne@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (239.3 kB)

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Building production, three month total and year-on-year change (26.1.2021)
• Appendix table 2. Preliminary registered starts, moving annual total and month-on-month change (Corrected on 18 February 2021) (26.1.2021)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (26.1.2021)

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Updated 26.1.2021